Lesley Howard

I am an Autistic Queer Artist based in Dumbarton. I am curious about the connection between play and movement, particularly with a focus on work for young audiences and the kinesthetic benefits this provides. I enjoy the freedom movement offers, allowing me to communicate in a preferred non-verbal way and the connection it offers to others. I enjoy creating movement through improvisation, often merging with British Sign Language.

I am passionate about creating accessible spaces within the dance community and valuing the importance of different voices/bodies. Particularly I am curious about how we view the term accessilbe. Through the Rosina Bonsu Bursary from TWR in collaboration with Artist Clare Adam, we developed our project, 'Where is the line? - Can we get it wrong?' where we invite respected artists & organizations to our workshop around accessibility, getting deep about what it really means to be accessible, and creating safe spaces for these conversations.

I graduated from The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in 2020, and since then I have been a freelance dancer & facilitator with Barrowland Ballet, Second-Hand Dance, and Clifftop projects (where I worked as their Youth Arts Co-Ordinator). I enjoy creating immersive and interactive work, with the wonderful collaborator Clare Adam. Together we took part in Imaginates Launchpad programme in 2022, developing our young audience work 'A Home for Hamish', and 'Brain On, Game On' which was commissioned and shared at Edinburgh's International Children's Festival in 2023.

Clareandlesley@outlook.com